Astros Pitcher Francis Martes Suspended 162 Games After Testing Positive for PEDs
By Karl Rasmussen
The Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal has taken hold of baseball conversation all throughout the offseason, but that suddenly isn't the only unfortunate issue impacting the team.
Minor league pitcher Francis Martes has been suspended 162 games for a second positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.
Astros pitcher Francis Martes suspended 162 games for his second positive PED test.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 17, 2020
Worst Astros news of the winter.
Martes reportedly tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.
The 24-year-old was suspended last season for PED use, testing positive for clomiphene, an anti-estrogenic drug, during his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Astros pitcher Francis Martes has been suspended 162 games without pay for testing positive for Boldenone. Which, even if he mainlined it ten times a day, did not help the Astros win more games than knowing which pitches were coming did.
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) February 17, 2020
While this may not have been the Astros' suspension baseball fans were clamoring for, it's still a notable loss for Houston.
Martes last featured in the majors in 2017, tossing 54.1 innings for the 'Stros and logging a 5.80 ERA with a 11.4 K/9.
The multiple suspensions and injury history suggest it'll be a difficult path back to the Show for the right-hander, and the latest ban couldn't come at a worse time considering the turmoil surrounding the organization already.